Planning Application approved

[prestonwcfc]

www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/8089501.Football_ground_plans_approved/

Well done to the board who have got the best that they can. Not what we had hoped for all those years ago, but the club lives on, and the future looks a little rosier

[pedant]

Indeed good news that we can now pay off the bank debts.

However the clock is now ticking towards when we have to vacate SGL and with only £2 million maximum to buy land, put in place infastructure and build a stadium up to the required standards, I am not convinced the medium and longer term future is all that rosy at all right now.

Particularly in light of the letter from Alan Coleman to St Modwen which slated their plans for "enabling development."

[Deleted]

I agree with preston, ok i'll write that again....I agree with preston! Well done to the Board for finally having the balls to lay out the terms of a sale, and to figure out that whether we want to or not, SGL has to be sold.
that will hopefully get a monkey off our back in terms of the bank, and give a foundation on which to set out a proper business plan (maybe then they could enlight Mr Boddy & co on what a business plan is!!) and to work out how to operate the club without making a loss. Thats the next big challenge, the next 2 years survival and future planning.
Then I agree with pedant, this makes no difference to the medium and long term future, they are still anything but rosy. The next monkey to get off our backs is undoubtedly St Modwen.

[prestonwcfc]

Agreed St Modwen are now the concern. I believe we actually have another 3 years at the lane, not 2 as the WEN stated. Personally I can then see us ground sharing for a couple of years, unless St Modwen show their sainthoods and build the ground for under 2 million !

[city4evaa]

Indeed good news! but now as a club we need to start making a profit year and year out. If we stay up next year i believe the attendances will allways be in the 600 ( what a difference to years back ! ) i cant see us building a good stadium at all . is it 2 million to build one? maybe the club can also sell parts off the stadium before its being demolished? sounds pathetic and wont get a lot off money but surely any money is welcome ? i cant think off anything right now though ha but maybe some fans would want to buy any part for memories? also i remember a steward telling me a few years back that liverpool first team would be the first to play in our stadium or is that more bullshxit? Also can we change the chips here? they are prob the worst i have had in non leage and when i ask for a burger with cheese! its a little cheese slice! what would just about fill a normal roll never mind the size off rolls we have and howcome when i go to get a pie i can never see one there!

[dragon]

I should think chips and cheese are the last things the Board should be concerned with at present.Just goes to show how small minded City fans can be when `the chips are down,`boom,boom!
Good luck to all involved in clearing the debt-and avoiding new ones-as they plan towards a new home for the Club!

[Deleted]

I think it is two further seasons at SGL according to stuff I've got from the board.

Henderson, I don't think the club will be able to sell bits of the stadium off, as they don't own it, Careys will have bought all the salvage rights. Changing the chips however is a possibility, and every opportunity to generate additional revenue to survive whilst homeless, and assetless, needs to be taken. We'll need a new banker, and new business plan, and a new attitude, particularly from those living in the past when Directors were the most important people within the club, and ties were mandatory in the Boardroom.

Lets hope that Careys don't sting us for the planning costs or the Sect 106 contributions!

[JohnInglisIsGod]

Apr 9, 2010 8:01:32 GMT Down The Pan said:

I think it is two further seasons at SGL according to stuff I've got from the board.

Henderson, I don't think the club will be able to sell bits of the stadium off, as they don't own it, Careys will have bought all the salvage rights. Changing the chips however is a possibility, and every opportunity to generate additional revenue to survive whilst homeless, and assetless, needs to be taken. We'll need a new banker, and new business plan, and a new attitude, particularly from those living in the past when Directors were the most important people within the club, and ties were mandatory in the Boardroom.

Lets hope that Careys don't sting us for the planning costs or the Sect 106 contributions!

As always, spot on jcp.
We cannot sell any 'bits' off, we can't even pinch bits of the pitch, you will be liable to ciminal damage and theft if you try too.
They have bought the lot, lock stock and smoking barrels. I am not certain if that includes certain ex chairman wh never seem to want to leave the Directors box.... Might do us a favour if it does

I think the new business plan won't be a problem.
If you have a little look into the history of our new Chairman he has a bit of a talent for turning around failing business, okay normally engineering firms but a business is a business and I think we are in much safer hands now than we have been recently.
I keep saying it, but give him time and I think it will pay dividends in the end.

[B*ue dragonstander]

I dont regard this as a step forward but as a the best of a bad job. At least there is some spare cash although it will need to be reinvested in new facilities to avoid a tax bill wont it?

Anyway it looks like the Club will have to set it's sights realistically and operate at the level it can afford - whatever that may be - and probably become one of a growing band of gypsy clubs with no permanent home?

[JohnInglisIsGod]

Apr 9, 2010 7:49:15 GMT dragon said:

I should think chips and cheese are the last things the Board should be concerned with at present.Just goes to show how small minded City fans can be when `the chips are down,`boom,boom!
Good luck to all involved in clearing the debt-and avoiding new ones-as they plan towards a new home for the Club!

Don't totally agree I am sorry
The small things all add up. The bar profits for instance will make a big difference. A big thank you has to be given to Neil for his sterling efforts of turning the bar takings around. In the short time he has been looking after things I believe he has nearly trebled the barrellage from 50 to 150 barrels. Through events such as the skittle league etc this is good income to the club and at a reasonable margin to (And not a pint of real ale in sight. Imagine what we could do with some decent beer behind the bar!!!!)
And if the food outlets were improved I am sure they could increase their takings. We may not be talking 100s of thousands but even another 1 or 2 thousand over the season makes a difference to the bottom line. Just taking another £100 a home game in food is another £2000

[Deleted]

Oooooh, all this agreement is making me feel quite funny!! I agree with JIIG We've got to think about operating revenues and cashflow for the next two years. That means maximising every opportunity to bring in cash, including bar takings, catering, sponsorship, events, everything. What Neil has done so far just shows what a waste of space Prescott was, and what he, and those who supported him, cost the club over the last 10 years or more!
I've said it before, I'll say it again, there is no reason why WCFC should be the only place where catering facilities are incapable of selling chocolate bars to kids (of all ages).

[B*ue dragonstander]

Right ho - how about the long overdue AGM? Now seems a good time.

[city4evaa]

Apr 9, 2010 9:34:13 GMT Down The Pan said:

Oooooh, all this agreement is making me feel quite funny!! I agree with JIIG We've got to think about operating revenues and cashflow for the next two years. That means maximising every opportunity to bring in cash, including bar takings, catering, sponsorship, events, everything. What Neil has done so far just shows what a waste of space Prescott was, and what he, and those who supported him, cost the club over the last 10 years or more!
I've said it before, I'll say it again, there is no reason why WCFC should be the only place where catering facilities are incapable of selling chocolate bars to kids (of all ages).

yes jcp i agree! most clubs sell mars bars , twixs and sweets a good old mars bar would be nice .

[Deleted]

Do you want to know the reason put forward by the caterers?? they can't sell chocolate alongside hot food as it would melt!! Right! I have an idea, its called a coolbox! it works for cold drinks, and magically it also stops chocolate melting!!

[LeedsWCFC]

Jim's representation to the planning committee.

[Deleted]

This a very sad day for me. I know there doesn't seem to be an alternative, but the very heart of the club will disappear. A large part of why I've supported this club since I was a kid is to be bulldozed, and no matter where the City play in future, on Perdiswell or in a spanking new stadium, something inside me has died.

[Deleted]

me too Ealing, and believe me, going to a game at SGL feels almost alien now. Its difficult to explain, and standing on the Brookside looking over into the Directors Box, and watching Boddy take his seat just adds to the alienation.

[JohnInglisIsGod]

Apr 9, 2010 12:22:21 GMT @ealing said:

This a very sad day for me. I know there doesn't seem to be an alternative, but the very heart of the club will disappear. A large part of why I've supported this club since I was a kid is to be bulldozed, and no matter where the City play in future, on Perdiswell or in a spanking new stadium, something inside me has died.

ABSOLUTLY! You and me both

[JohnInglisIsGod]

Apr 9, 2010 13:11:21 GMT Down The Pan said:

me too Ealing, and believe me, going to a game at SGL feels almost alien now. Its difficult to explain, and standing on the Brookside looking over into the Directors Box, and watching Boddy take his seat just adds to the alienation.

Maybe we should hold a minutes silent or as the 'in thing' is now, a minutes applause for St. Georges Lane on Saturday?

[dragon]

You mean we should give Boddy the clap?

[jupu]

SGL is an outdated stadium that is falling apart and no friendly millionaire has, to my knowledge, come along with the cash to rebuild it. We can all feel sad about leaving SLG, but it's an antique, we would have had to leave regardlesss of the current situation I believe.

Thursday's decision isn't a cause for celebration, more a case of job done, move on to the next hurdle to overcome.

[JohnInglisIsGod]

Apr 9, 2010 19:57:04 GMT jupu said:

SGL is an outdated stadium that is falling apart and no friendly millionaire has, to my knowledge, come along with the cash to rebuild it. We can all feel sad about leaving SLG, but it's an antique, we would have had to leave regardlesss of the current situation I believe.

Thursday's decision isn't a cause for celebration, more a case of job done, move on to the next hurdle to overcome.

You are right of course. The place is an antique
But for all the folk that have been going to The Lane since they were kids, they have a lot of happy, if clouded and a tad rose tinted, memories.
I suppose is it like losing a loved one, that family dog who has been with you 14 years and you know that age has got the better of him, you know it is for the best that you let go and put him to his final long sleep, but it is so sad and so hard to let go.
Some of the youngsters who have only been watching a few years will love the new stadium, I am sure, and they will gather their own memories, but I know I will always remember Christmas 1970, my first game at The Lane with a Grandad who died long ago and many other great memories along the way too....... always the old romantic but at the same time looking forward to reading the news about the on pitch saga's and not who has done what in the board room and the financial mess we are in. OR Is that another rose tinted thought too?

[dragon]

My very first visit was on Good Friday 1946,the first derby game against Hereford Unt. after the war. Too young to have recorded the gate figure but such games often attracted 8000 plus and once (about 1950) was as high as 13,000.Where,oh where,did it all go so wrong!"

[selbyswig]

As we're starting to get nostalgic for the old girl that is SGL: my first game was 1979 when I was 10. My dad took me and my brother to watch the FA Cup victory against Plymouth Argyle. I've being going ever since...

[birdfeeder]

I was one of the 80,000(well everybody said they were there) watching the Liverpool game,we were told by the Headteacher no one could have the day off to go to the game but there was a lot of sick notes that day.

[city4evaa]

wow my first game was agaisnt stamford rangers in the fa cup , city was leading 3:1 but conceded two late goals , what memories the mascot then waved at me , i was like ooooo